The player doing what he's told can happen exactly the same way in a non-linear environment. The same thing was true in System Shock and System Shock 2 - the first being very non-linear in comparison. You still did what you were told to do to progress.

Also, I'm one of those few people who never understood the "amazing" revelation regarding this sentence.

A player in a computer game is bound by the constraints of the design - and are subject to the whims of the quest-giver?

Wow, I certainly didn't realise that after playing games for 30 years. I really thought I was free to do as I please in a computer game made with limited resources on a platform with hardware limitations.

The preconditioning aspect was neat - but it wasn't the game-changer people made it out to be.

You were "preconditioned" to take down an AIRPLANE IN MIDFLIGHT - and you were just expected to survive and swim to that place? Right - that makes a LOOOOOT of sense. The VITA chambers function with a limited range - so…

Also, I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why Andrew Ryan didn't regenerate in the VITA chambers - seeing as how they were coded to his own DNA. Since the player regenerates - so must he.

The less said about the boss fight ending the better.

I might be wrong and seeing meaning that isn't there but I think quote isn't just about gaming it's about blind obedience for "just cause".Why would I think that and why I think phrase"would you kindly" is perfect fit is for long topic and more suited for P&R part of forum which I tend to stay away from.Point of my previous post was there is more to bioshock that meets the eye initially.